Main features of Universities Superannuation Scheme A guide for independant financial advisors This guide is designed to support Independent Financial Advisors (IFAs) in their work with members of Universities Superannuation Scheme. This document describes arrangements under the USS trust deed and rules (Rules) as they are understood at the date of issue. Whilst every care has been taken in preparing the factsheet, if there is found to be any discrepancy between the document and the Rules, the latter will take precedence. Contents Sections of the scheme and eligibility to participate 2 Retirement ages and calculation of pensionable salary 3 Member contributions (historic) 4 Member contributions (current) 5 Standard pension on normal retirement 6 Standard cash lump sum on retirement 6 Tax Charges 6 Benefits payable on death-in-service 7 Benefits payable on death-in-deferment 7 Benefits payable on death-in-retirement 8 Information on beneficiaries following a member s death 8 Transfers 9 Revaluation and pension increases 10 Earnings Cap 10 Lifetime allowance (LTA), annual allowance limit (AA) and Scheme specific cap 10 Pension increase factors 11 Early Retirement Factors (ERF) 11 Main Features of USS for IFAs Feb 2018 V1.1 Page 1 of 12
Sections of the scheme and eligibility to participate Final salary until 31 March 2016 Existing active members of the scheme on 30 September 2011, including those who left on or after 1 October 2011 and re-joined USS within a period of 30 months Members who left USS before 1 October 2011 and re-joined before 31 March 2014 Deferred members with service prior to 1 October 2011 will have final salary benefits ending on their last day of service Career Revalued Benefits (CRB) until 31 March New members of the scheme joining on or after 1 October 2011 2016 Members who were active members on the scheme on 30 September 2011 who left on or after 1 October 2011, and re-joined USS after a period of 30 months Members who left USS before 1 October 2011 and re-joined after 31 March 2014 USS Retirement Income Builder from 1 April 2016 Existing active members of final salary and CRB on 31 March 2016 New members of the scheme joining on or after 1 April 2016 USS Investment Builder (defined contribution scheme) from 1 October 2016 Members earning in excess of the salary threshold (described in the salary section below) Members/Employers paying the 1% match Members paying additional voluntary contributions above the match Members who have transferred in benefits since 1 October 2016 Eligibility to join Full-time and part-time staff Employer participates in USS Post is pensionable according to contract of employment (may differ for each employer participating in the scheme) Employees on variable time contracts Main Features of USS for IFAs Feb 2018 V1.1 Page 2 of 12
Retirement ages and calculation of pensionable salary Retirement ages Normal pension age is 65 for members with service after 1 October 2011, increasing in line with state pension age Minimum retirement age from 6 April 2010 is 55 (unless retirement is due to incapacity) Exception: If a member has a Protected Pension Age (PPA) they may be eligible to access their pension from age 50. The criteria for a PPA is: If you are aged 50 or more, with five years service, are made redundant and you have been paying into USS continuously since 5 April 2006, you will be entitled to access your pension from age 50. If you left the scheme on or before 5 April 2006, aged 50 or more, with five years service and either left at the request of the employer or were made redundant, you can receive your pension from age 50. The retirement ages for men and women were equalised was 1 April 1995 If an early retirement factor is applied to benefits, in most instances the following deductions will apply: Service before 17 May 1990 (unless member s contractual pension age is lower) Men: 65 Women: 60 Service from 17 May 1990 to 31 March 1995 Men: 60 Women: 60 Service from 1 April 1995 to 30 September 2011 (unless member s contractual pension age is lower) Men: 63 ½ Women: 63 ½ Service from 1 October 2011 Men: 65, increasing in line with state pension age Women: 65, increasing in line with state pension age Main Features of USS for IFAs Feb 2018 V1.1 Page 3 of 12
Retirement ages and calculation of pensionable salary Pensionable salary only relevant to final salary members and members with a transfer in to the USS Retirement Income Builder Salary for CRB and USS Retirement Income Builder members The below are calculated to the earlier of date of ceasing membership and 31 March 2016, increased in line with the scheme revaluation (further information can be found in the revaluation section of this guide): Pensionable salary is calculated at the date of ceasing employment as follows: The salary a member has earned whilst a member of USS for each of the 13 years previous to the date on which pensionable salaries to be calculated is noted Each year s salary is indexed up to the date of ceasing employment in accordance with movements in the Index of Retail Prices over the period Pensionable salary is then the higher of: The highest yearly indexed amount received in any one year out of the last three years The highest yearly indexed amount averaged over any three consecutive years out of the last 13 years For members who joined the scheme on or after 1 June 1989, the Finance Act 1989 imposes a limit on the amount of salary the earnings cap that may be taken into account in this calculation; this value increases each year in line with the Retail Price Index The earnings cap is removed with effect from 6 April 2006 but the USS rules will allow employers the option of retaining a scheme specific cap with the consent of the employee. The scheme specific cap will be calculated in accordance with the mechanism used to calculate the statutory earnings cap as per ICTA 1988 s590c Both sections are Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) and benefits are calculated using the member s salary earned during the scheme year, up to the salary threshold A salary threshold was implemented from 1 October 2016, starting at 55,000 per year. This is automatically revalued each April in line with increases in official pensions (currently linked to CPI), subject to certain caps (further information can be found in the revaluation section of this guide). The value of the salary threshold for the scheme year 2017/2018 is 55,550 per year Member contributions (historic) Final salary members prior to 1 October 2011 Members paid 6.35% of salary until age 65 or 40 years pensionable service was completed, whichever was earlier. At that point the member and the employer could choose whether to continue making contributions to the scheme. Employee contributions could be paid without the employer s contributions, however the employer s contributions could only be paid if the employee s continued A member could pay up to an additional 15% of salary as AVCs to purchase additional service in USS A member could pay up to 100% of the balance of earnings to the Prudential money purchase AVC scheme Main Features of USS for IFAs Feb 2018 V1.1 Page 4 of 12
Member contributions (historic) Final salary members from 1 October 2011 to 31 March 2016 Members paid 7.5% of salary until age 65 or 40 years pensionable service was completed, whichever was earlier. At that point the member could choose whether to continue making contributions to the scheme. Employer contributions must also have been paid if the member elected to continue A member could pay up to an additional 15% of salary as AVCs to purchase additional service in USS. This option ended from 1 November 2015 but existing arrangements continue (unless stopped) A member could pay up to 100% of the balance of earnings to the Prudential money purchase AVC scheme CRB members until 31 March 2016 Members paid 6.5% of salary until age 65 or 40 years pensionable service was completed, whichever was earlier. At that point the member could choose whether to continue making contributions to the scheme. Employer contributions must also have been paid if the member elected to continue A member could pay up to an additional 15% of salary to an existing AVC arrangement to purchase additional pension and lump sum in USS This option ended from 1 November 2015 but existing arrangements continue (unless stopped) A member can pay up to 100% of the balance of earnings to the Prudential money purchase AVC scheme Contracting-out All USS members were contracted-out of the State Second Pension (S2P) until 5 April 2016 Member contributions (current) USS Retirement Income Builder members from 1 April 2016 USS Investment Builder members from 1 October 2016 Members pay 8% of salary until age 65 or 40 years pensionable service is completed, whichever is earlier. At that point the member can choose whether to continue making contributions to the scheme. Employer contributions must also be paid if the member elects to continue. For, service after 1 October 2016, contributions to the USS Retirement Income Builder are limited to the salary threshold ( 55,000 for 2016-18 and then reviewed every year) (i.e. taken out before November 2015) A member can continue to pay up to an additional 15% of salary to an existing AVC arrangement to purchase additional pension and lump sum in USS (new arrangements could not be made after 1 November 2015. Members pay 8% of salary and contributions relating to salary above the threshold are invested in their individual USS Investment Builder account 12% of employer contributions in respect of the same salary are also invested in the members USS Investment Builder account A member can enhance retirement savings by making Additional Voluntary Contributions. The first 1% of contribution will be matched by their employer if the member selects the match. Main Features of USS for IFAs Feb 2018 V1.1 Page 5 of 12
Standard pension on normal retirement Final salary members until 31 March 2016 1/80th of pensionable salary for each year of pensionable service CRB members until 31 March 2016 1/80th of salary. The annual accrued pension amount is revalued (see below) to the date at which the benefits become payable USS Retirement Income Builder members Between 1 April 2016 to 30 September 2016, 1/75th of salary. From 1 October 2016, 1/75th of salary up to the salary threshold. The annual accrued pension amount is revalued (see below) to the date at which the benefits become payable. Standard cash lump sum on retirement USS Retirement Income Builder members Standard annual accrued pension, as described above, multiplied by three The tax-free cash at retirement is in addition to pension USS Investment Builder members Funds invested in the USS Investment Builder can be taken alongside benefits from the USS Retirement Income Builder Alternatively these funds may be accessed using DC flexibilities; such as UFPLS (uncrystallised funds pension lump sum), or purchasing an annuity on the open market Withdraw some or potentially all as a tax free cash lump sum Commutation options on retirement Reduce tax-free cash sum (to as low as zero) to increase pension Reduce pension to maximise tax-free cash sum (up to a maximum of 25% of the value of accrued benefits) Note: Maximum tax-free cash from 6 April 2006 cannot exceed 25% of lifetime allowance Tax Charges Lifetime allowance (LTA) The LTA was introduced with effect from 6 April 2006. A member s excess benefits from all sources over the LTA will be subject to a recovery charge at 55% on lump sums and 25% on pensions. Annual allowance (AA) limit This is a maximum limit for the tax approved benefits which an individual may accrue in any one year. Any growth in benefits in excess of the AA will be subject to a recovery charge on the excess Members may have a personal AA lower than the standard AA if they are subject to the AA taper Members who flexibly access pension benefits from a money purchase arrangement are subject to a money purchase annual allowance (MPAA) The pension input period (PIP) runs from 6 April to the following 5 April, subject to HMRC regulations The AA limit does not apply on the death of a member or to the PIP in which total incapacity retirement occurs Main Features of USS for IFAs Feb 2018 V1.1 Page 6 of 12
Benefits payable on death-in-service USS Retirement Income Builder and USS Investment Builder members Lump Sum: Greater of: 3 x annual salary aggregate of lump sum accrued for each year of pensionable service up to age 65 (subject to a maximum of 40 years) plus any deferred lump sum from a prior period of membership (benefits are not limited to the salary threshold) Refund of funds in respect of voluntary member contributions (excluding the employer match) invested in the USS Investment Builder Refund of funds in respect of transferred-in benefits invested in the USS Investment Builder No refund of USS Retirement Income Builder contributions. Lump sum is paid in addition to spouse s/civil partner s/dependant s pension Spouse s/civil Partner s/dependant s Pension: ½ of accrued pension for each year of pensionable service but based on full salary, up to age 65 (subject to a maximum of 40 years) If the member is over age 65, pension based on member having retired on the day before death; ½ accrued pension at date of death, but based on full salary, plus a late retirement factor (subject to a maximum of 40 years). Benefits payable on death-in-deferment Final salary members until 31 March 2016 USS Retirement Income Builder and USS Investment Builder members Lump Sum: Three times value of annual pension at date of death No refund of contributions Spouse s/civil Partner s/dependant s Pension: 1/160th of pensionable salary for each year of pensionable service up to date member left the scheme, plus indexation from date of leaving to date of death Lump Sum: Three times value of annual pension at date of death Refund of USS Investment Builder account No refund of USS Retirement Income Builder contributions Spouse s/civil Partner s/dependant s Pension: ½ of annual accrued pension up to date of member leaving scheme, plus indexation from date of leaving to date of death Main Features of USS for IFAs Feb 2018 V1.1 Page 7 of 12
Benefits payable on death-in-retirement Final salary members who retired prior 31 March 2016 USS Retirement Income Builder and USS Investment Builder members Lump Sum: Possible lump sum benefit (in addition to the lump sum paid to the member upon retirement) should death occur within five years of retirement. If the member retired on total incapacity grounds and is under age 65 at date of death a lump sum may be payable even if retirement was more than five years prior to death Spouse s/civil Partner s Pension: 1/160th of pensionable salary for each year of pensionable service up to date of member s retirement, plus indexation from date of retirement to date of death Lump Sum: Possible lump sum benefit (in addition to the lump sum paid to the member upon retirement) should death occur within five years of retirement. If the member retired on total incapacity grounds and is under age 65 at date of death a lump sum may be payable even if retirement was more than five years prior to death Refund of USS Investment Builder account Spouse s/civil Partner s/dependant s Pension: ½ of annual accrued pension up to date of member s retirement, plus indexation from date of retirement to date of death Information on beneficiaries following a member s death Eligible child annuities Payable as of right if the child is under the age of 18 or until the child attains the age of 23 years if undergoing full-time education approved by the trustee company; Payable beyond the age of 23 years if the child is physically or mentally incapable of being selfsupporting Annuities can be paid to any number of eligible children up to a maximum equivalent in total of: Three-quarters of the pension the member would have received, based on service to age 65 (death-in-service) or Three-quarters of the pension the member was in receipt of at date of death (death after retirement/death-in-deferment) If only one child is eligible the amount payable is equivalent to three eighths of pension Main Features of USS for IFAs Feb 2018 V1.1 Page 8 of 12
Information on beneficiaries following a member s death Dependants benefits May be payable if a member is not married or has not entered into a civil partnership at date of death, whether in service, during deferment or after retirement The total amount of pension payable to a dependant cannot exceed the amount which would have been payable to a spouse. The amount payable to a dependant can be divided amongst more than one dependant A dependant is someone who, in the opinion of the trustee company, was either wholly or partly financially dependent on the member at the time of death or dependent because of any physical or mental disability Transfers Transfers-in Transfers-in to the scheme are permitted at the discretion of the trustee and are only available to active members of the scheme Transfers-in are made to the USS Investment Builder (the DC section) and are typically available for most UK registered schemes and overseas arrangements that quality as Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (ROPS) All transfers, except for eligible public sector club transfers, will be paid into the USS Investment Builder. If a member wishes to transfer on a club basis, they must have joined USS before 1 April 2016 and complete the transfer by 31 March 2018, having requested the transfer within 24 months of commencing USS membership Further details regarding equalisation of benefits, guarantee periods, actuarial reduction and eligibility for club terms can be found on the transferring pension benefits to USS from other pension schemes factsheet Transfers-out All members (including active members) are eligible to transfer out their USS Investment Builder and/or any Prudential AVCs to a registered pension scheme Deferred members may transfer their USS Retirement Income Builder benefits out to a registered pension scheme if they are under Normal Pension Age (currently 65) Main Features of USS for IFAs Feb 2018 V1.1 Page 9 of 12
Revaluation and pension increases USS Retirement Income Builder annual revaluation Accrued annual pension and lump sum benefits revalued only after a period of 12 months in the scheme. Annual revaluations will occur at 31 March each year commencing 31 March 2017 Under the scheme s rules USS pension and lump sum benefits are revalued in line with official pensions (currently linked to CPI) subject to certain caps detailed in the following point USS will match official pension increases up to 5%. Where the increase exceeds 5%, one-half of the excess above 5% will be taken into account with an upper ceiling of 10% in all cases Annual revaluation is exactly the same whether the member is an active member of the scheme or is a deferred member GMP USS allows for GMPs to be revalued at the full rate in accordance with Section 148 orders Pension increases For service accrued before 1 October 2011, USS pensions are increased in the same way as official pensions For service accrued from 1 October 2011, USS pensions are increased in the same way as official pensions subject to a cap as detailed in the revaluation section above Earnings Cap Limitation introduced by Finance Act 1989 on pensionable remuneration in an occupational pension scheme for both benefit and contribution purposes. Applies in particular to final remuneration. Relevant only for post-89 members, and pre-87 and 87-89 members who have taken the post-89 option. Tax Year Earnings Cap 1989-90 60,000 1990-91 64,800 1991-92 71,400 1992-93 75,000 1993-94 75,000 1994-95 76,800 1995-96 78,600 1996-97 82,200 1997-98 84,000 Tax Year Earnings Cap 1998-99 87,600 1999-00 90,600 2000-01 91,800 2001-02 95,400 2002-03 97,200 2003-04 99,000 2004-05 102,000 2005-06 105,600 2006-07 108,600 The earnings cap is removed with effect from 6 April 2006 but the USS rules will allow employers the option of retaining a scheme specific cap with the consent of the employee. The scheme specific cap will be calculated in accordance with the mechanism used to calculate the statutory earnings cap as per ICTA 1988 590c. Main Features of USS for IFAs Feb 2018 V1.1 Page 10 of 12
Lifetime allowance (LTA), annual allowance limit (AA) and Scheme specific cap Start Date Salary Threshold 1 Oct 2016 55,000 1 April 2017 55,550 1 April 2018 57,216.50 Tax year LTA AA* Scheme cap 2006-07 1.5m 215,000 108,600 2007-08 1.6m 225,000 112,800 2008-09 1.65m 235,000 117,600 2009-10 1.75m 245,000 123,600 2010-11 1.8m 255,000 123,600 2011-12 1.8m 50,000 129,600 2012-13 1.5m 50,000 137,400 2013-14 1.5m 50,000 141,000 2014-15 1.25m 40,000 145,800 2015-16 1.25m 40,000 149,400 2016-17 1.00m 40,000 N/A 2017-18 1.00m 40,000 N/A 2018-19 1.03m 40,000 N/A *Effective date is 1 April with effect from 1 April 2007 Pension increase factors Year % Increase 1997 3.00* 1998 3.60 1999 3.20 2000 2.10** 2001 3.30 2002 1.70 2003 1.70 2004 2.80 2005 3.10 2006 2.70 2007 3.60 Year % Increase 2008 3.90 2009 5.00 2010 0.00 2011 3.10*** 2012 5.2 2013 2.2 2014 2.7 2015 1.2 2016 0.00 2017 1.00 2018 3.00 * Includes a discretionary increase of 0.90% awarded by USS ** Includes a discretionary increase of 1.00% awarded by USS *** Change to CPI subject to cap for post 1 October service and CRB members Main Features of USS for IFAs Feb 2018 V1.1 Page 11 of 12
Early Retirement Factors (ERF) A sample of the reduction that may apply is benefits are paid early is shown below. Scheme early retirement factors are subject to change. Number of years of Male % reduction Female % reduction early retirement 3 13.8 13.3 4 17.8 17.1 5 21.5 20.7 These factors will be interpolated for complete years and months of early retirement to one decimal place (0.05 rounded up). This publication is for general guidance only. It is not a legal document and does not explain all situations or eventualities. USS is governed by a trust deed and rules and if there is any difference between this publication and the trust deed and rules the later prevail. Members are advised to check with their employer contact for latest information regarding the scheme, and any changes that may have occurred to its rules and benefits. Any references to the Trustee or USSL in this document means Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited, the trustee company of Universities Superannuation Scheme and any references to the scheme or USS means Universities Superannuation Scheme. Main Features of USS for IFAs Feb 2018 V1.1 Page 12 of 12